Camera test system
AssigneeDialog Semiconductor GmbH
InventorsHorst Knoedgen, Dirk Huettmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A test system for digital camera modules used in consumer electronics, e.g. cellular phones and PDA's is shown. The test system comprises of a tester and a module handler that is aimed at reducing test time by an order of magnitude. The Test system has an image-processing unit that uses N-parallel processor to reduce the computation time on a test image by approximately the number of parallel processors. The handler is controlled by the tester to select, focus and test small digital camera modules. There are two test stations in the handler, where a first test station performs tests on a first camera module while a second test station is loaded with a second camera module, thus burying the loading time within the test time.
Claims79
A test system for testing of digital camera modules, comprising:
- a) a tester containing a computer system and software algorithms for control and test of a digital camera module (MUT),
- b) a test handler for handling said MUT during test;
- a tray handler,
- a robot,
- a plurality of test stations comprising;
- a light source,
- a target wheel,
- a field lens,
- a contact unit,
- a focus unit,
- c) said tester controls said test handler to transfer the MUT, using said robot, from a tray within said tray handler to the contact unit of said test stations, wherein a focus, an electrical test and an optical test are performed on said MUT,
- d) said contact unit makes electrical contact to said MUT and positions said MUT under an optical unit comprising said light source to illuminate the MUT, and said target wheel in conjunction with said field lens and said focus unit to focus said MUT,
- e) said computer system analyzes pictures taken by said MUT during test.
A tester coupled to a handler for testing digital camera modules, comprising:
- a) a control unit,
- b) a digital control module,
- c) an analog module,
- d) a picture processing unit,
- e) software algorithms,
- f) said control unit controlling the operation and set up of a handler having a plurality of test stations,
- g) said digital control module providing control signals to said digital camera module under test (MUT),
- h) said analog module measuring analog signals from said MUT,
- i) said picture processing unit for computing picture parameters from a digital picture image,
- j) said software algorithms providing control of:
- a light source in said handler,
- a focus operation on the MUT,
- a spit of picture images taken by the MUT.
A method of testing digital camera modules, comprising:
- a) controlling a test handler with a tester to focus and test a digital camera module (MUT),
- b) applying a voltage to said MUT,
- c) measuring DC parameters,
- d) selecting and controlling a light source,
- e) selecting and positioning a focus target,
- f) focusing said MUT,
- g) measuring analog picture parameters from said MUT,
- h) capturing a digital picture using a frame grabber,
- i) coupling a digital picture image from said MUT to a picture processing unit,
- j) splitting said digital picture into N-portions and storing said N-portions into memory of said picture processing unit,
- k) computing picture parameters of said digital picture portions with said picture processing unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.